Lanzarote - a very popular holiday destination, thanks to its year round warm climate, long hours of sunshine and gorgeous beaches. The first thing you think of when some one mentions Lanzarote is the beach and the weather but with the use of a car you can see and sample so much more of the island and what it has to offer.
Lanzarote is an island with an impactful history. In the late 1800's volcanic eruptions shaped the area that we now know as the Timanfaya National Park. It is unfortunate that many people who visit Lanzarote might not even know about this magnificent national reserve. Stemming from the volcanic activity there are other attractions around the island that have been created out o lava bubbles and tunnels. These creations, made by man from natural events are very popular and you wont find anything quite like them anywhere in the world.
With a hire car you can also venture out to other events taking place around the island, such as the weekly Teguise market. This takes place every sunday morning until 2pm and you can literally spend hours looking at the local crafts, leather goods and other products that are on sale. There is local entertainment on aswell, which all comes together to make a great atmosphere.
If you or your family likes animals then you can jump in your car and visit the Guinate Tropical Park in the North of the island, where you can see all sorts of wild birds, or visit the Rancho Texas Park just outside Puerto del Carmen, where they have also just introduced a new water park area - great fun for all the family!
Of course, having a car just means that, if you want to, you can get out of your resort and go and sample the different areas of Lanzarote. Imagine that you are staying for two weeks, and one day you wake up and its cloudy. If you fancied doing something a little different you could head over to Arrecife, the capital of Lanzarote to find out how the locals really live - or simply see what the other resorts are like and how they differ from the one you are staying in.
Having a car means you can stretch your mind further afield. You can try different beaches, sample the foods of restaurants in other places, and if you are in Lanzarote at the right time of year you could even go and see one of the local carnivals.
Car Hire in Lanzarote isnt expensive, especially if you book before you travel. Whats more, the cost of diesel and petrol on the island is also very reasonable, and with Lanzarote being such a small island you could find that you experience much more without a huge additional cost.
Friday, 22 July 2011
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Lanzarote - an island defined by art and nature
Lanzarote, the fourth largest of the Spanish archipelago, the Canary Islands, is a very popular holiday destination with tourists flocking from all over Europe.
Lanzarote is a tourist favorite thanks to its year round climate, thanks to its location and close proximity to the Sahara desert. Even during the winter months Lanzarote enjoys 8 hours of sunshine and temperatures that rarely drop below 20 degrees celcius.
However, whilst the tourist industry plays a major part in the economy of Lanzarote, there is much more to it than hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and beaches. Lanzarote was thought to have been named “The Red Mountains” after the it was born out of fiery volcanic eruptions around 35 million years ago! It is said that Lanzarote, along with the other Canary Islands was formed as part of the break up of the African and American continental plates.
One of the most magnificent natural attractions on Lanzarote is the Timanfaya National Park. The park that is sparse in vegetation and distinctly identifiable by air from the number of large craters on show, tells the story of volcanic eruptions that took place during 1730 and 1736. The eruptions of the 1730’s are known as the greatest in Europe and saw many residents on Lanzarote take refuge in Gran Canaria.
To this day areas around the Timanfaya park still measure temperatures of 600 degrees just 13 metres below the ground that you stand on. You can see demonstrations of how hot this is within the park, through geyser demonstrations and watch straw set on fire as it is pushed just metres underground.
Whilst the eruptions helped to forge Lanzarote’s natural landscape, in more recent times a local artist, Cesar Manrique, helped to shape Lanzarote as we know it today in terms of the style of buildings, local sculptures, paintings and genius natural attractions that are scattered around the island. You could say that Manrique used Lanzarote as his canvas.
Some of the Manrique creations that are open as visitor attractions on Lanzarote include Mirador del Rio, a lookout built into the northern cliffs with amazing views over La Graciosa (a neighboring island) and Jameos del Agua, a lava tunnel containing a natural pool that is home to albino crabs (said to be the only place in the world where they can be found). Jameos del Agua also has an auditorium / concert hall built into the lava landscape. The lava based rock formations that line the walls of the auditorium are said to creating amazing acoustics that really bring classical music alive.
The legacy of Manrique is still very much alive today. Apart from a few large hotels, there are no high rise buildings and all buildings are painted white with either blue or brown door and window frames. It is because of this, along with the barren landscape that Lanzarote stands out from the other islands that make up the Canary archipelago.
Lanzarote is a tourist favorite thanks to its year round climate, thanks to its location and close proximity to the Sahara desert. Even during the winter months Lanzarote enjoys 8 hours of sunshine and temperatures that rarely drop below 20 degrees celcius.
However, whilst the tourist industry plays a major part in the economy of Lanzarote, there is much more to it than hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and beaches. Lanzarote was thought to have been named “The Red Mountains” after the it was born out of fiery volcanic eruptions around 35 million years ago! It is said that Lanzarote, along with the other Canary Islands was formed as part of the break up of the African and American continental plates.
One of the most magnificent natural attractions on Lanzarote is the Timanfaya National Park. The park that is sparse in vegetation and distinctly identifiable by air from the number of large craters on show, tells the story of volcanic eruptions that took place during 1730 and 1736. The eruptions of the 1730’s are known as the greatest in Europe and saw many residents on Lanzarote take refuge in Gran Canaria.
To this day areas around the Timanfaya park still measure temperatures of 600 degrees just 13 metres below the ground that you stand on. You can see demonstrations of how hot this is within the park, through geyser demonstrations and watch straw set on fire as it is pushed just metres underground.
Whilst the eruptions helped to forge Lanzarote’s natural landscape, in more recent times a local artist, Cesar Manrique, helped to shape Lanzarote as we know it today in terms of the style of buildings, local sculptures, paintings and genius natural attractions that are scattered around the island. You could say that Manrique used Lanzarote as his canvas.
Some of the Manrique creations that are open as visitor attractions on Lanzarote include Mirador del Rio, a lookout built into the northern cliffs with amazing views over La Graciosa (a neighboring island) and Jameos del Agua, a lava tunnel containing a natural pool that is home to albino crabs (said to be the only place in the world where they can be found). Jameos del Agua also has an auditorium / concert hall built into the lava landscape. The lava based rock formations that line the walls of the auditorium are said to creating amazing acoustics that really bring classical music alive.
The legacy of Manrique is still very much alive today. Apart from a few large hotels, there are no high rise buildings and all buildings are painted white with either blue or brown door and window frames. It is because of this, along with the barren landscape that Lanzarote stands out from the other islands that make up the Canary archipelago.
Monday, 11 July 2011
Getting the most out of your Lanzarote Holiday
Lanzarote is a gem of an island that sits just off the coast of Africa within the Canaries Archipelago and is owned by Spain. It is an island that was formed by Volcanic activity, most of which is still evident in todays magnificent landscape.
Holidays in Lanzarote are very popular, especially with Europeans. The Canary Islands offer a warm climate 12 months of the year, with very little rain. With that said it is easy to see why they are such a popular choice when it comes to vacation time.
Holidays in Lanzarote can offer so much to some many different people. Wether its just taking time to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy some fine dining, or if you are looking for a full on adventure holiday with scuba diving and wind surfing then Lanzarote is the place for you. Got a young family? No problem. There is always plenty to do for the youngsters, from organised activities in Kiko Land in Playa Blanca, to entertainment provided by hotels in other resorts. There really is something for everyone.
Fancy a bit of shopping? Lanzarote can offer that aswell. Throughout the week there are different craft markets that take place around the main resorts and towns of the island with the 'mother' of all markets taking place in Teguise every Sunday morning between 10am and 2pm. If you have a hire car then get yourself up there - its a sight to be seen. If you don't then don't miss out. There are plenty of excursions available from different resorts that will get you there.
Interested in the history of Lanzarote? Then take a trip over to the Timanfaya National Park. This gem of an attraction takes you through the path of the volcanoes that shaped the landscape and you can even order food that has been prepared on a natural grill, heated from just meters under the surface.
There are many different types of accommodation in Lanzarote, and some suite people or families better than others. You might want to stay in a luxury hotel for example where typically you just get a room with a bed and you would visit the on site restaurant for meals. Or for those that fancy a bit more freedom why not consider staying in a self catering apart-hotel, or a holiday villa. Whilst holiday Villas can be a little more pricey for smaller groups, the larger the group the cheaper they come as they tend to be priced per villa and not per the number of people staying in them.
To get the most out of your holiday you need to know what you want from it before you go. For example if you want to get around and see the sights you should, in our opinion book a hire car. Lanzarote may only be a small island, but with your own wheels you can discover hidden gems that you would never know about if you were to stay within your resort.
Holidays in Lanzarote are very popular, especially with Europeans. The Canary Islands offer a warm climate 12 months of the year, with very little rain. With that said it is easy to see why they are such a popular choice when it comes to vacation time.
Holidays in Lanzarote can offer so much to some many different people. Wether its just taking time to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy some fine dining, or if you are looking for a full on adventure holiday with scuba diving and wind surfing then Lanzarote is the place for you. Got a young family? No problem. There is always plenty to do for the youngsters, from organised activities in Kiko Land in Playa Blanca, to entertainment provided by hotels in other resorts. There really is something for everyone.
Fancy a bit of shopping? Lanzarote can offer that aswell. Throughout the week there are different craft markets that take place around the main resorts and towns of the island with the 'mother' of all markets taking place in Teguise every Sunday morning between 10am and 2pm. If you have a hire car then get yourself up there - its a sight to be seen. If you don't then don't miss out. There are plenty of excursions available from different resorts that will get you there.
Interested in the history of Lanzarote? Then take a trip over to the Timanfaya National Park. This gem of an attraction takes you through the path of the volcanoes that shaped the landscape and you can even order food that has been prepared on a natural grill, heated from just meters under the surface.
There are many different types of accommodation in Lanzarote, and some suite people or families better than others. You might want to stay in a luxury hotel for example where typically you just get a room with a bed and you would visit the on site restaurant for meals. Or for those that fancy a bit more freedom why not consider staying in a self catering apart-hotel, or a holiday villa. Whilst holiday Villas can be a little more pricey for smaller groups, the larger the group the cheaper they come as they tend to be priced per villa and not per the number of people staying in them.
To get the most out of your holiday you need to know what you want from it before you go. For example if you want to get around and see the sights you should, in our opinion book a hire car. Lanzarote may only be a small island, but with your own wheels you can discover hidden gems that you would never know about if you were to stay within your resort.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)